Defending Those Across The Pond
Ever since the news broke that Kimi Raikkonen is off to NASCAR, PF1 posters have been having a go at the American series, many saying some rather derogatory statements that, well, we'd never publish.
However, NASCAR isn't that bad. In fact, in some ways it trumps Formula One - and here's why.
- In NASCAR there are more than five overtaking moves a race. In fact, in NASCAR there are more than five a lap. Take the Daytona 500 run at the start of this season. There were 74 lead changes, that's not including all passes, and 22 different drivers led the race - that's the entire F1 field in Melbourne. Another example, last Sunday at Fontana, Kyle Busch was leading with five laps to go with Jimmy Johnson right on his rear wing. Johnson took the lead with three laps to go while Kevin Harvick was closing in fast from third place. He easily took Busch and basically three corners from the end of the race took the victory off Johnson.
When last did F1 have a three-way fight for a race win with five laps to go?
- Drafting. In NASCAR you can sit on the chap in front's back bumper. Actually, the cars are designed to do just that. They close right up on the car in front, tuck under his bumper and give him a push. This allows the two cars to have better slipstreaming, giving them a speed advantage over the rest of the pack. It's impressive to watch.
In F1, the cars create so much 'dirty' air that it's almost impossible to close up on the guy in front. And if you were to and actually put your cars -to-nose, chances are you'd lose your front wing.
- Anyone can win a NASCAR race. When the drivers, over 40 of them, line-up on the grid at the start of the race they know that anyone of them can win. Just ask Trevor Bayne. A rookie in the sport, he won the prestigious Daytona 500. Since then, he's sucked. So even those not firing all the time can pull off that one magic moment and that's all you need in NASCAR to win a race. And that's largely because the cars are so similar.
In F1, there is a multi-million dollar difference between the front and the rear of the grid. Hell, there's a multi-million dollar difference between the front and the midfield. That basically means that, barring any crazy rain showers like in Monza 2008, those at the back are never racing for victories, they are barely racing for points most of the time!
- The green-white-checkers finishes. In NASCAR you get to race for the victory even if there's a caution on the final lap. The rules state that when the race ends under a yellow-flag caution, once the track is clear there will be an additional two laps. The first lap is the green-flag lap, i.e. back to racing, while the white-flag lap is the final lap and then of course there's the checkered flag, i.e. the end. This allows the drivers to fight for the race win and giving them two laps in which to do it.
Now think back to last year's Monaco Grand Prix. The race was behind the Safety Car after Jarno Trulli and Karun Chandhok decided on lap 70 to see whose car really was on top in the battle of the newbies. Mark Webber was leading the race and went on to win as it was behind the Safety Car until the very end. However, Michael Schumacher overtook a "sleeping" Fernando Alonso on the final corner for sixth place. But he was later penalised and stripped of his points as the stewards declared he had broken the rules. Now imagine if he had another two laps...
- No need for rain to spice up the action. When Bernie Ecclestone touted the idea of artificially wet F1 races, Williams' technical director Sam Michael told BBC Sport: "I don't think it's a good idea. It's taking a step too far in terms if making it an orchestrated show. There are other ways of improving the racing without going down the NASCAR route. In fact, NASCAR don't even do that, so it's derogatory to them to say that."
Firstly, what Michael should note is the correct English for "NASCAR don't even do that" would be "NASCAR doesn't even do that." Secondly, NASCAR doesn't need to that. The races are exciting. From lead changes to crashes to passing to nudging the barriers. It's all there already. NASCAR doesn't have to create excitement.
F1 does! Let's just think back to the 2010 Bahrain GP or the 2010 European GP. Don't remember them? That's probably because you were sleeping.
- There's no pretence, what you see is what you get. In NASCAR the drivers give officials the finger when they get penalised for speeding through the pits (and later the officials slap back). They tell it as it is, or as they perceive it to be, when someone takes them out. Throw the occasional punch. If their car is crap they will tell you it is and that the team needs to work harder. There are no grid girls, you stand by your car with your wife, your children, your family.
Now let's think about F1. One driver in recent times who wasn't pretension was Kimi Raikkonen. Remember the ice cream incident? Yip, you all do because it was so different to what any F1 driver in the modern era would do. He wasn't a yes man. He was the Ice Man. And he got slated for it because in F1, it's all about the PR.
- Juan Pablo Montoya (and now Kimi Raikkonen). Montoya is in NASCAR and Kimi is heading that way. Both drivers, love 'em or hate 'em, are great drivers. They have something many others are lacking, they have guts. They drove with aggression, style and passion. It was an experience watching them race.
F1, well, there aren't a lot of drivers like that in F1 because they would be slated for over-aggression. So Michael Schumacher almost put Rubens Barrichello into the wall in Hungary, well good for him. It was racing. And it was great. PS: I still say Rubens should have backed off.
- Crowds and ticket prices. Despite having almost 40 events on the calendar, fans flock to NASCAR. The crowds are huge. That's partly because of the ticket prices. I can go to this weekend's NASCAR event Martinsville Speedway for $99.00 for a two-day package.
In contrast, I can go to Silverstone for the British GP and pay £135 for general admission - and that's only for the Sunday.
That's £62 vs £135.
- The Star Spangled banner. I am not American. I have no patriotism or feelings towards their anthem. But it is a sight to behold when the crowd stands to their feet, removes their caps, puts their hands on their hearts and sings along. The drivers, their families and team personnel all do the same. Those who aren't American don't sing but they stand to attention and stay silent.
At last Sunday's Australian GP, the crowd stood and sang while the F1 teams and drivers chatted. Even F1's only Aussie driver, Mark Webber, was, at least according to the pictures shown on TV, not paying any attention to the anthem.
Michelle Foster
PS: Before I come in for flak, which I'm sure I will, I do love F1!
http://www.planet-f1.com/editorial/6...1-s-USA-Rivals
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So what do you guys think? I still prefer F1 technology over any other series. But the way F1 is headed, I think there would be many who would switch interests to another series..
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Originally Posted by Ken
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